Profile: Nick Francis

Letters this month focus on CE marking, particularly CE marking of steel and whether it is possible to CE mark a swing bridge.

Developing new tools to help structural engineers make more efficient use of materials – and persuading them why they must do so – are key themes for Cambridge academic Dr John Orr. He talks to Helena Russell about his research and plans for the future.

What sort of person would put a significant amount of time into developing an indispensable structural carbon calculation tool, then give it away for free? Helena Russell spoke to Penny Gowler to find out.